Cuban's reasoning is that these players, the likely one-and-done superstars, aren't on campus to go to class, pledge a fraternity or run for student government president.

They're there for the business of winning championships. They're not going to be around to be fitted for caps and gowns.

So why not drop the charade and launch their pro careers by putting them out on the floor every night against opponents that are, on balance, superior to those on most college schedules.

Not everyone loves the idea. SMU coach Larry Brown, who has won championships at both the college and NBA levels, believes the quality of teaching young players receive from good college coaches is superior to what they would get in the D-League.

That's debatable.

This isn't something that would kill big-time college basketball. We're probably talking about dozens -- not hundreds -- of players opting to go pro rather than enroll in school.

For starters, there are currently only 17 D-League teams with 10 roster spots each. Out of necessity, many of those 170 spots are occupied by seasoned players with NBA experience.

Instead, without many of its superstars, college basketball would become a more level playing field, one where coaching decisions could have as much of an effect on the outcome of games as recruiting decisions.

We likely would never again see a school like Kentucky put five players in the first round of the NBA draft. And that's not a bad thing.

High school players would, under the present draft eligibility rules, need to play a full season in the D-League before they would be eligible for the draft. So there would be at least some semblance of a developmental period.

From a lifestyle standpoint, the D-League, with its rigorous travel, proximity to pro coaches and former NBA players, would be a closer approximation of what young players experience once they get to the NBA.

One of the challenges for young basketball prospects -- and those in any major sport, for that matter -- is leaving behind the Never-Never Land of campus life for the realities of living on a budget.

Cuban added that for high school players who opt to go the D-League route, contracts should guarantee college tuition money in case their careers flame out.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver is on record as a fan of the D-League and would seem to possess the sort of forward thinking required to create a system that makes sense and offers protection for young players who decide to turn pro.

Silver already has said he would like to see the NBA's minimum age raised to 20, which would require most players to wait at least two years before entering the draft. Three years would be better.

What Cuban is proposing isn't perfect, but neither is the current setup. Anything that helps put the "college" back in college basketball would be a step in the right direction.